Sutton tips Wiggins for world championship medal

Australian says Sky rider is turning things around: ‘He is starting to produce some nice numbers’

The rider has had a difficult season but British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton has said that he believes Bradley Wiggins is showing signs of turning things around, and that he could be on track for a world championship medal in September.

Sutton, who is regarded as a father figure for Wiggins, played an important part in his career thus far. While he has worked with him less this year than before, he believes that things are picking up.

“Brad looks to be in a good place. He is starting to produce some nice numbers,” he told PA. “In Brad's words, 'small steps' are what he is looking for at this moment in time.

“It has been a turbulent season for him, but never underestimate the greatness of this guy. I can see him on the podium at the Worlds.”

Wiggins had a dizzying 2012 season, winning the Tour de France and the Olympic time trial title, and also taking Paris-Nice, the Tour de Romandie and the Critérium du Dauphiné.

However this year has been sobering, with his best results being second in the Saltara time trial in the Giro and fifth overall in the Volta a Catalunya. He was also fifth in the Giro del Trentino.

His goal of winning the Giro d’Italia ended when he dropped out of the race, off form and sick, and he didn’t ride the Tour de France.

He returned to action this week in the Tour of Poland but has been outside the top fifty on each stage. He began today’s fifth sage 49th overall, 23 minutes 43 off the race lead.

Sutton isn’t discouraged, feeling sure that things will pick up in time for the Tour of Britain and the worlds. “I think he is in a good place now and I think we'll see some really, really top performances over the next couple of months towards the end of the season,” he said.